File

This file documents the organization and programming of Guide camps held by the 47^th Company from Lachine and the 53^rd Company from Saint-Jean-de-Matha. It also provides information about the work done by the leaders and documents the values, qualities and skills that are emphasized at camp. The file is comprised of four camp notebooks and a collection of handwritten notes.

The three first camp notebooks focus on the 1963 winter camp in Lachute and fall camp in Sainte-Martine, where Murielle Mailloux worked as an assistant, and the 1964 summer camp held at Lac Archambault in Saint-Donat. The fourth notebook covers the 1966 summer camp held by the 53^rd Company from Saint-Jean-de-Matha at Lac Mine in Rivington, where the young woman worked as a nurse. Adopting more or less the same format, the notebooks present practical information about the camp (dates, location, participants), an explanation of its theme, the daily schedule, the description of activities, the organization of participants into groups and their respective responsibilities, the list of service codes, and an explanation of the reward system and the list of awards handed out. The Lachute camp notebook includes a menu, while that of Lac Archambault has a list of equipment to bring. The notebooks also contain song lyrics. Each notebook focusses on a particular theme, which provides a starting point for the activities organized during camp. In the explanation, the camp states the values associated with the theme, which underpin the targeted experiences and skills, including the Catholic values upon which the institution is founded. For example, the guiding theme of the Lachute winter camp was "Life in the pines," a concept that emphasized the sense of peace, purity and depth created when contemplating fir trees in the snow, veritable "gifts of the Master Magician," far from the bustle of city life. For its part, the Sainte-Martine fall camp focussed on the theme of "Discovery" (of one's abilities, the Guiding life, the profession of chef, etc.), highlighting self-improvement, self-knowledge, fellowship, and teamwork.

A collection of handwritten notes entitled "Camp notebook," covered with a photograph and wooden sticks, contains song lyrics and "ideas for camp," some of which are illustrated with drawings. There are references to issues of the Guiding magazine Vivre from 1947 and 1963. In addition, there are suggestions for a game of charades, a list of what should be in the "campfire box," and rules for games, such as the classics Simon Says, Loup y es-tu (a counting song), musical chairs and tag. The book also contains notes on topics like accepting one's limitations, the great outdoors, and the role of Christian faith in educating children.